Updated ,first published
Married At First Sight relationship expert Mel Schilling has died. The 54-year-old psychologist was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023. Earlier this month she revealed the cancer had spread into her brain, leaving no chance of recovery. She leaves behind her husband Gareth Brisbane, and 10-year-old daughter Madison.
Brisbane revealed the news on Instagram on Tuesday night. “In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life,” Brisbane wrote. “It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.
“This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both. This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming.
“To most of you, she was Mel Schilling — matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate. On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world.”
Schilling joined the Australian version of the reality show in 2016. Along with fellow psychologist John Aiken and sexologist Alessandra Rampolla, who joined in 2021, Schilling counselled couples on the show. She also appeared on the UK version of MAFS, which she was still filming this year.
Nine’s executive director of entertainment, streaming and broadcasting Michael Healey said the network was “deeply saddened” by Schilling’s death.
“Mel was a wonderful colleague and friend,” Healey said in a statement. “She had a gift for connecting with people and helping them navigate life’s challenges. For years, she guided us through the complexities of the human heart with wisdom, honesty, and kindness.
“Mel was a big part of our family, and she will be greatly missed. Our hearts and deepest sympathies are with her husband Gareth, their daughter Maddie and her entire family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Endemol Shine Australia’s director of content Tara McWilliams said the production company was “beyond heartbroken to say goodbye to our beloved Mel” and that working with her on MAFS over the last 10 years had been a privilege. “We will miss you more than words can say,” said McWilliams.
It was only last week, on March 13, that Schilling revealed her “light was starting to fade”, revealing on Instagram she had been diagnosed with a tumour the “size of a lemon” in December 2023. This was successfully removed in surgery, but in February 2024, a routine scan revealed small nodules in her lungs. Over the next two years, Schilling underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy.
However, in December 2025 she discovered the cancer had spread to her brain, and in February, she announced her departure from MAFS Australia, citing “health challenges” and a desire to prioritise her family.
Last week, she shared the news of her deteriorating health on social media. “Over Christmas … I began experiencing blinding headaches and numbness down my right side,” she wrote in the Instagram post that included a photograph of her with husband Gareth Brisbane and their daughter Madison.
“After many tests, I was told the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain and, despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do,” she continued.
Hearing those words “changed everything”, she said. “But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love. Simple tasks have become incredibly difficult and I am relying on my beautiful family to look after me. I honestly don’t know how long I have left, but I do know I will fight to my last breath and will be surrounded by the love and support of my people.”
MAFS is broadcast by Nine, the owner of this masthead.
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Nell Geraets is a Culture and Lifestyle reporter at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
Louise Rugendyke is the National TV editor and a senior culture writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.
